Photo: Ministerio de Energía y Minas de Cuba.
Nearly three years after a fire destroyed half of the Matanzas Supertanker Base, China has emerged as the main international partner in its reconstruction. According to recent Cuban government statements, Chinese technical brigades are currently building three of the four new tanks, numbers 49-1, 86, and 87, while Tank 88 is being constructed by Cuban teams and has reached 60% completion.
This is the first time officials have publicly acknowledged China's involvement in the project. Early on, Venezuela was expected to lead the recovery efforts, given its historical support and previous investment in the facility. However, recent reports no longer mention Venezuelan participation, highlighting China’s growing role in this phase.
The new tanks are being built across two separate platforms, in contrast to the original layout where the tanks stood side by side. This redesign, led by the Integrated Project Directorate, aims to improve safety conditions. The project also includes perimeter fencing, seven kilometers of asphalted roads, modern lightning protection systems, and containment structures.
The investment is led on the Cuban side by the state-owned Fuel Marketing Company (CUPET). While the full reconstruction is expected by 2026, no official completion dates have been confirmed. As of April 2024, only the base of Tank 88 had been completed, with technical challenges and material shortages slowing progress.
The August 5, 2022 fire, triggered by a lightning strike, claimed 17 lives and caused widespread environmental and logistical damage. Despite the scale of the disaster, no formal investigation findings have been published and no public accountability has been established. Reconstruction continues, with China now playing a central role in shaping the future of this strategic fuel terminal.
* Original text in Spanish. Translated by Large Language Model (LLM) technology.
Main Source:
China ha sustituido a Venezuela en la reconstrucción de los Supertanqueros de Matanzas – 14 y Medio
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